Flapper mill for grinding suspensions of vermiculite



July 22, 1958 B. H. ROUSE 2,844,328

FLKPPER MILL FOR GRINDING SUSPENSIONS 0F VERMICULITE Filed May 22, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Benjamin H. Rouse IN VEN TOR.

B. H. ROUSE 2,844,328

, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July- 22, 1958 FLAPPER MILL FOR GRINDING SUSPENSIONS 0F VERMICULITE Filed May 22. 1956 mm a Q Benjamin H. Rouse INVENTOR.

FLAPPER MILL FOR GRINDING SUSPENSIONS F VERMICULITE Benjamin H. Rouse, Le Roy, Kans.; Ruth M. Rouse, administratrix of said Benjamin H. Rouse, deceased, assignor of one-half to 0. G. Rouse, Russell, Kans.

Application May 22, 1956, Serial No. 586,427

3 Claims. (Cl. 241-46) This invention relates to a mill for removingforeign and metallic materials from vermiculite and for preparing highly effective lubricants.

It has been found by spectroscopic, chemical and magnetic tests that there are present with vermiculite ore a number-of foreign elements and compounds which are with but not an essential part of the ore. Certain of these foreign substances are not only non-essential, but are actually detrimental and it is a special object of this invention to provide a mill by which a varying amount of minerals, iron, and iron compounds can be readily removed from the vermiculite ore so that the pure vermiculite can be suspended in a colloidal solution in oils or greases to form highly effective lubricants. v

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel flapper mill for utilization in the preparing of greases with vermiculite suspended in a colloidal solution therein.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this process and apparatus for preparing vermiculited lubricants, a preferred embodiment of the flapper as utilized in the present invention being shown in theaccompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the mill;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the construction of the mill and of the arms with the flaps appended thereto in particular;

Figure 3 is a sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2 with the end plate structure omitted for the purposes of clarity; v

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view illustrating the construction of one of the flapper arms incorporated in the present invention illustrating the manner in which the flaps engage the surface of the drum; and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of one of the flaps as mounted in one of the arms.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral.10 generally designates the flapper mill utilized in. the pres ent invention. This flapper mill includes a;housing or drum 1?. of generally cylindrical configuration providedwith an inner cylindrical surface asindicated at 14. Secured as by bolts and made substantiallyliquid proof by means of gaskets 16 and 18 are end plates .20 and 22,- the bolts being indicated at 24 and 26. Journaled in suitable bearings 28 and 30 mounted exteriorly of the drum 12 is a shaft 32. The bearings 28 and 30 of the shafe 32 may be mounted on suitable trunnions or other supports as indicated at 34 and 36. Shieldsas at 38 and 40 that form a packing or the like may be provided for maintaining the substantially liquid proof materialof the drum 12 at the point where the shaft 32 penetrates the end ,Walls 20 and 22;

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Means are provided for mounting the shafts which may include a pulley 42 mounted on the shaft 32 and driven clockwise by a belt 44 which in turn is driven by a suitable motor 46 through use of a drive shaft 48 and drive pulley 50. Of course, any other suitable means may be utilized for powering the shaft 32.

Secured to the shaft 32 and arranged in a helical spiral are a plurality of arms 54. These arms 54 as can be seen best in Figure 5, are each arranged at an angle with respect to the shaft 32 and are twisted lengthwise spirally in the direction the contents of the mill are circulating and include a stem portion 56 having an enlarged portion 58, which may be provided with a recess 60 in the free end thereof. Received in the recess 60 are a plurality of springs as indicated at 62, which continuously urge flaps 64 of suitable resilient material such as rubber or deterioration free synthetic rubber or like material, outwardly of the recess 60 and into engagement with the inner cylindrical surface 14 of the drum 12.

The arms 54 are so shaped and arranged that upon rotation in a given direction, the helical spiral arrangement will cause the flaps which resiliently engage the interior surface 14 of the drum to drive the material from the inlet 68 of the drum toward the outlet 70. Specifically, each arm is constructed of a flat elongate plate with the radial axis or centerline of the plate normal to the axis of rotation of shaft 32. The outer end of the arm is oriented parallel with the inner end of the shaft by having the body or midportion of the arm severely twisted through approximately 180 (Figures 3 and 5) so that double curved, cupped parts are formed. The twist in the arm provides a pair of forward cupped surfaces that apply two components of force on the material to propel it radially and axially in the drum toward the drum outlet. along the interior of the housing and outwardly toward the surface of the housing walls. The outlet 70 is controlled by a valve 72, and when the valve is closed or substantially closed, the material passing into the outlet 70 must pass through a return pipe 74 into the inlet 68. Another return pipe 76 may be provided oppositely dis posed to the outlet 70.

In order to form a highly effective lubricant the mill is utilized to form a colloidal suspension of the vermiculite in even light weight oils or greases. It has been found that there are several types of vermiculite ore, and these may contain many different foreign materials, and it has been determined by tests and experimentation that most of these foreign materials including iron compounds and titanium, which are detrimental to the use of vermiculite as outlined in this patent, may be washed out of the raw ore by proper floatation methods, due to the fact that the specific gravity of the vermiculite ore is, on the average,

lighter than the foreign materials especially titanium,

which titanium can readily be recovered. After the washing or floatation method is used the vermiculite ore must be suitably dried. The vermiculite ore is first heated so that the so-called molecular water or helium gas in the vermiculite ore will expand and cause the vermiculite compound to separate along the lines of cleavage of the laminae, which is one of the prime characteristics of the vermiculite ore. After the vermiculite compound has been suitably heated and exfoliated it may be found necessary to again use the floatation or washing methods to further remove foreign materials which may have been held within the vermiculite ore flake and released only by exfoliation; theresulting exfoliated vermiculite is dried by any suitable means. This properly cleaned and processed vermiculite ore is then passed between or over suitable magnets where a major portion of the iron and iron compounds will be left attracted by the magnet as the ore The components move the material longitudinally.

3 passes thereover. The ore may then be ground in any suitable mill. After the ore has been ground it may be again passed over the magnets and any further residueof the iron and iron compounds may be readily attracted by the magnet and thus removed from the vermiculite. The pure vermiculite is then adapted to be introduced into the oils or greases so that a concentrate of the pure vermiculite powder can be suspended in a colloidal solution.

Because of the extreme light Weight of the particles of vermiculite they can be suspended in any and all liquids, oils or greases, and to Whatever purpose or use, but it has been found by tests and experiment that, although the vermiculite can be suspended in various fluids, whose specific gravity is very light, such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel oil, and the like, this suspension is found to take on a more permanent character in a colloidal condition in certain types of gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel oils, and the like, if additives are supplied which help support the microscopic laminae. It has been found that certain agents or additives can assist in making a colloidal suspension without deleterious efifect or distraction from the inherent characteristic or attributes of the vermiculite, but in assisting and disseminating of the vermiculite through the liquid, and in so doing, further maintains the efficiency of the product. Certain preparations or agents have been determined to be most eflicacious for this purpose, and it has been found that calcium or a sodium soap, and especially the element silicon, when prepared in a powder marketed under the trade name of Cab-o sil can be successfully employed. Various other preparations may result in enabling the vermiculite to be suspended in a colloidal solution, but the foregoing have been found presently to be highly advantageous.

Any oil, vegetable, animal or mineral, or other liquid may be used, but for the purpose of this description, No. 30 S. A. E. lubricating oil is used and'the amount of preparation is approximately ten gallons of oil to be made into a concentrated colloidal suspension which can then be diluted to any desired amount.

Approximately one gallon of oil is heated to about 150 F. and into this is stirred the approximate amount of one ounce of a silica powder such as hereinabove described. This is mixed f-rom one-half to one hour depending upon the amount of time that it takes for the silica to be dissolved and disseminated in the oil. The percentage of concentrate of vermiculite powder is determined and in this particular example a by weight of ten gallons of oil is stirred into the warm oil. The flapper-type mill as indicated by reference number 10, is prepared by filling it approximately one-half to threefourths full of oil heated to approximately 150 F. While the mill isrunning at approximately 400 revolutions per minute, the silica oil solution heretofore prepared is poured in, followed by a suitable amount of the vermiculite oil mixture until the entire batch is in the mill. Additionaloil may then he added to fill the mill. The flapper type arms cause the further abrading and separating of the exfoliated vermiculite into microscopic particles and the heat or friction of the grinding process results in a novel and unexpected result in causing the suspension of the lubricant in the oil in a colloidal manner that is substantially permanent. The mill is maintained in operation for periods in excess of onehalf hour until upon removing of a test sample from the outlet 70 it has been found that the vermiculite remains in solution. Then the valve 72 may be opened to stop the return flow from the outlet conduit 70 through the conduits 74 and 76 and back to the inlet 68 which causes the regrinding and further regrinding of the vermiculite particles in the oil.

A heavier colloidal concentrate can be made. In fact, the concentrate of the colloidal solution can be so heavy that it can be made into a. paste, but it has been found by tests and experimentation that the pure vermiculite does not have to be made into a colloidal condition or solution first before being used as it may be mixed directly into oils, greases, and other products during the process of their manufacture. The colloidal mixture being more desirable to use inv light oils, gasolines, kero sene, diesel fuel oils and the like, and being a more convenient form to standardize a known amount of vermiculite to use in various products.

It is to be understood that this process of making a vermiculite concentrate of colloidal suspension is variable but this suspension can be diluted in any liquid, oil or grease to as little as one part of 200, 300, or more, the only difference being that the weaker the solution, the longer it takes to show the effects of the vermiculite for the purposes of reducing friction, electrical insulation, protection from corrosion or contaminations from chemicals with the surface of the body which might come into contact therewith. It is to be recognized that the invention may be utilized to effect oil suspension of vermi-culite in waxes or paints.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A flapper mill comprising a drum having a cylindrical inner surface, a shaft rotatably mounted in said drum, means for rotating said shaft, a plurality of arms secured to said shaft in a helical spiral and extending approximately radially from said shaft, means at the ends of said arms for propelling the material toward one end of said drum, said arms comprising a flat elongate plate with the radial centerline of said plate approxiately normal to the axis of rotation of said shaft, said plate being severely twisted by approximately the axis of the twist being the radial centerline of said flat elongate plate thereby providing the arms with double cupped parts, the forward surfaces of which apply force components on the material in both a radial outward and longitudinal direction relative to said axis of rotation.

2. A flapper mill comprising a drum having a cylindrical inner surface, a shaft mounted rotatably in said drum, means for rotating said shaft, a plurality of arms extending radially from and attached at their ends to said shaft, flaps on the outer ends of said arms and engaging the cylindrical inner surface of said drum, springs engaging said arms and said flaps and urging said flaps against said inner surface of said drum, said arms comprising a flat elongate plate with the radial centerline of the plate normal to the axis of rotation of said shaft, said plate being severely twisted longitudinally of the arm and through approximately 180 so that the inner and outer'ends of said arm are approximately parallel and have double cupped parts angulated with respect to said rotation axis, the forward surfaces of said double cupped parts adapted to provide force components on the material in both a radial outward and longitudinal direction with respect to said axis of rotation.

3. The flapper mill of claim 1 wherein said drum has an inlet and an outlet spaced therefrom, a return conduit joining said inlet and outlet, and valve means for con trolling flow through said outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 136,002 Olds Feb. 18, 1873 155,227 Heatherington June 23, 1874 164,397 Robbins June 15, 1875 (Other references on following page) OTHER REFERENCES Rollins Mar. 7, 1882 Lovett May 22, 1906 Adell Oct. 14, 1919 Hindshaw lime 15, 1926 Dimm Feb. 21, 1928 Hutchins Feb. 21, 1933 6 Earle July 4, 1933 Brinker et a1 Sept. 3, 1935 Carswell et a1. Apr. 18, 1939 Lereke Oct. 1, 1940 McCleary June 23, 1942 Rouse June 22, 1943 Hintlian Apr. 17, 1951 

